Plug for electric conductors.



O. BAHLS 61 T. SIEBERT, JR. PLUG FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6,1914. RENEWED OCT. 19.1916.

1 25 1 ,6 1 8 Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

0. BAHLS & T. SIEBERT, JR. PLUG FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS. APPLICATION FILED iUNE 6, 19M. RENEWED OCT. 19.1916.

1,251,618.- Patented Jan. 1, 19m

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 5 a ntoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO BAHLS AND THEODORE SIEBERT, JR., 0]? NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS OF ONE- I-IALF TO SAID BAHLS AND ONE-HALF T0 SAID SIEBERT, JR.

PLUG- roB. ELECTRIC co'mnuc'roas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1, 1918.

Application filed June 6, 1914, Serial No. 843,388. Renewed October 19, 1916; Serial 110.152.6525.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, OTTO BAHLS and THEODORE SIEBERT, Jr., both citizens of the United States, and residents of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plugs for Electric Conductors,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved plugs for electric conductors, and has for its object to provide an improved plug and receptacle therefor. The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be more fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the plug and the receptacle,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a switch member carried in the receptacle,

Fig. 4: 's a perspective view of one of the plug switch members,

F1 5 is an enlarged view of the plugshowing the .same in vertical section,

Fig. .6 is a section of the innerportion of the plug taken at right angles to Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a view of one end'of the plug, and

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8--8, Fig. 1, o a larger scale.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout-the various views.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the receptacle 10 is provided with lugs 11 which are adapted to be fastened to the wall to which the receptacle is applied by screws 12. The receptacle 10 is provided with an enlarged open end 13 which has a seat 1 1 on which a cover-plate 15 is adapted to rest. At the corners ofthe receptacle 10, flanges 16 are provided to which the plate 15 is secured by screws or other suitable means. Within the receptacle 10 several blocks 18, 19 and 20 of in- 'sulating material are arranged, and these are secured in'position between plate 15 and an opposite plate 81 by fastening bolts .21, suitably insulated by tubes 22 of insulating material. Between the blocks 18, 19 and 20, contact-plates are provided, which are indicated by 25, 26, the plate 25 being held at its edges between the blocks 18 and 19, and the plate 26 between the blocks 19 and 20. Plate 25 is connected by a terminal 42 I with a conductor 39 leading to the outside of the device. Said terminal comprises a main-portion 35, having parallel laterallyprojecting wings 30, 31, between which the plate is received. In the main-portion 35 is an inwardly-tapering socket 37, which receives the correspondingly-tapered end of a connector 38 to which the wire 39 is at-. tached. A bindingscrew 40, accessible through a bore ll in the blocks 18, 19, secures'the connector 38 to the terminal 12. At the opposite side of the box, a like tenninal 43 connects the plate 26 with the conductor 48. Each of the plates 25, 26 has a central opening which is of circular shape except for two oppositely-located inwardlyprojecting segments, each of which is approximately 90 degrees in length. The outline of one of these segments is indicated at 44:, 45, 16 in Fig. 2, and the outline of the other is indicated at 94, 95, 96 in said figure. The segments of the two plates 25, 26 are arranged in line. The plate '15 has a like opening with that of the plates 25 and 26. The blocks 18, 19, 20 have circular openings equal to the'largest diameter of the openings in the plates 25 and 26.

The plug comprises a base-plate 56 to which is attached a handle 76. On said base-plate are three blocks 53, 54., 55 of insulating material, between which are arranged two sets of contact-plates. The upper set comprises two plates 50, spaced apart and spaced from the blocks'53, 51, by metal washers 17. The lower set comprises two similar plates 51, likewise spaced from each other and from the blocks 54, 55 by similar washers. Beyond the block 53 is a metal head 57. The blocks 53, 54, 55, and inter- -mediate plates, are all secured together by two bolts 58, which are inclosed in insulating tubes 61 and connectedat their upper ends b a cap-plate 59, insulated from the head 5 by a piece of suitable insulation. The head 57, blocks 53, 54, 55, and contactplates 50 and 51, are all made of the general shape of the opening of the plates 15, 25 and 26, but of slightly smaller dimensions, so that the plug may be easily inserted in the receptacle. The base-plate 56 has an annular recess 88. The portion 24 at the inner side of the recess is shaped like the block 55, but the portion 27 at the outer side of the recess remains circular in shape. The result of this construction is that when the plug is inserted into the box, the portion 24 of the same enters the box. Upon turning the plug, the plate 15 takes into the recess 88, and the part 24 of the base-plate 56 rides at the inner side of said plate, thus retaining the plug in the receptacle. The part 24 rides on the plate 15 for a very short distance in advance of the connection which immediately thereafter is made between the plates 50 and the plate 25, and plates 51 and plate 26. This mechanical lead insures proper meshing of the contact-plates. The plug is now turned by hand for a quarter of a rotation, thereby bringing the contact-plates into frictional engagement over their full surfaces.

When the plug is out of the box, the cir cuits of the conductors 39, 48 are broken. When the plug is inserted and turned, a double connection takes place. The inner plate 25 is connected by the plates 50 with a terminal rod 63 in the plug, which rod is insulated therein by a tube 67 and at its outer end 64 is screwed into a threaded socket 65, which connects with the conductor 66. A circuit through conductors 39 and 66 is thereby established. Simultaneously by means of another terminal rod 68 in the plug, which is connected with the plates 51, and at its threaded outer end 69 engages a screw-threaded socket'70, a circuit is estab- V lished through conductor 48 and a conductor 71 connected with the socket 70. Insulating washers 72 serve to properly insulate the ends of the rods 63 and 68. For breaking the circuits, it is only necessary to return the plug to disengaging position and then withdraw the same from the box.

The handle 76 of the plug is hollow. At its inner end it has a flange 75, which fits in a. corresponding annular recess in the baselate 56. A washer 83 is seated on the flange 7 5. Screws 85 passing through the washer and flange secure the handle to the base 56 of the plug. lVithin the handle, an insulating layer 82 serves, in addition to the washers 72, for insulating the 'rods 63 and 68. The conductors 66 and 71 pass from the sockets 65, 70, Within the handle, and are combined therein into one. cable 78 which extends through an end-opening 77 of the handle to the outside of the same. For preventing rotation of the cable in the handle, a sleeve 79 of insulating material is provided within the handle 76. Said sleeve has a longitudinal bore adaptedto receive the cable, and the Wall of said bore is roughened, as shown at 29, for securely engaging the cable to prevent turning. The sleeve 79 is tapered at its outer end, and the handle is correspondingly tapered, thereby increasing greatly the friction between the two parts.

For positively locking the sleeve against rotation, set-screws 80 may be inserted from the outside through the handle, their inner ends engaging the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 5.

The plates 25, 26, 50 and 51 are made 01' metal having good conductivity characteristics, also possessing fairly good spring qualities, such as hard drawn brass, copper, steel, or composition metal. Their meeting edges are either upturned or filed round, as shown at 73 in Fig. 4, to insure easy meshing when contact is being made.

The plug shown provides for making simultaneously two connections, that is, closing or opening two circuits. The invention is applicable, however, to plugs for other numbers of circuits, it being only necessary to increase the number of contact-plates to the extent desired.

From the construction shown and described, it will be 'seen that one of the special advantages of the invention is to prevent any straining of the contact members, and by reason of the meshing of the parts a very good contact is obtained. The de vice has the advantage over the present plugs that the contacting members are not exposed and open to injury, but are all concealed, and thereby good contact is obtained, whereas when the contacting members are exposed to injury, the contact becomes poor by bending or injury of the parts.

For preventing any accidental short circuit which might be caused when inserting the plug into the receptacle by contact of any of the passing contact-plates 50, 51 with the cap 15 of the box, there are provided on the plug two elongated guideplates 97. Said plates are each arc-shaped in cross-section and are located upon the correspondingly arc-shaped portions of the plug, one at each side of the same, each guide-plate extending from the head 27 of the plug to theplate 57 of the same. Each guide-plate 97 is provided at each of its long sides with an ,angularly-disposed flange 98 (see Fig. 7). When the plug is inserted into the receptacle the flange 98,-by abutment with the cap-plate 15, prevents the plug from being so turned as to place any of the contact-plates of the same in conparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

plate, said plug contact plate being arranged in a plane relatively to the contact plate of the receptacle so as to frictionally engage the same within saidlateral space ad acent said contact plate when the plug is turned, to

lock the 'said plug and receptacle against separation.

2. An electric switch comprising a receptacle, a plurality of laterally disposed. insulated contact plates therein arranged on different planes, independent conductors connected tosaid plates, and a plug of insulated material provided with a plurality of laterally disposed recesses, a plurality of contact plates disposed Within said insulated recesses in planes parallel to the upper and lower walls of said receses and providing a lateral space within each of said recesses adjacent said contact'plates, and independent conductors connected to said plug contact plates, said plu contact plates being arranged in lateral p anes relatively to the plates of the receptacle, so as to frictionally engage the same within said lateral spaces adjacent said contactplates when the plug is turned, to lock the plug and receptacle against separation. v

' 3. An electric connection, comprising a pair of cooperating members, a laterally disposed insulated contact plate on one of said members, a conductor connected to said plate, the other of said members being ormed of insulated material and provided with a laterally disposed recess therein, a

contact plate disposed within said insulated recess, and providing a'lateral space within said recess adjacent said contact plate, and a conductor connected to said last mentioned contact plate, said last mentioned contact plate being arranged in a plane relatively to the first contact plate, so as to frictionally engage the same within said lateral space adjacent said contact plate when the members are turned with respect to each other to lock the said members against separation.

A. An electric 'switch, comprising a receptacle, a plurality of transverse insulated contact plates therein arranged on different planes, independent conductors connected to said plates, and a plug of insulated material provided with a plurality of horizontally disposed transverse recesses, a plurality of contact plates disposed within said insulated recesses in planes parallel to the upper and lower walls of said recesses, and spaced from said walls of said recesses, and independent conductors connected to said plug contact plates, said plug contact plates being arranged on planes correspondin to the plates of the receptacle, so as to frictionally engage the same when the plug is turned.

5. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle provided with 'a cover having an opening therein, a plurality of transverse insulated contact plates, therein, arranged on difi'erent planes, and Provided with openings registering with the opening of said cover, independent conductors connected to said plate, and a plug of insulated material provided with a plurality of transverse insulated recesses, a plurality of contact plates disposed within said insulated recesses, and independent conductors connected to said plug contact plates, said plug contact plates being arranged on planes correspondin to the plates of the receptacle, so as to rictionally engage the same when the plug is turned.

6. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle provided With a cover, having an opening therein having a central circular portion and a pair of radially disposed, diametrically opposite segmental portions, a plurality of transverse insulated contact plates, provided with openings similar to and registering with the openings of said cover, and an insulated plug of insulated material of a crosssection, similar in shape to the said openings and provided with a plurality of transverse, insulated recesses in the segmental portions thereof, a plurality of contact plates disposed within said insulated recesses, and independent conductors, connected to said Iplug contact plates, said plug contact plates eing arranged on planes corresponding to the plates of the receptacle, so as to frictionally engage the Same when the plug is.

mental portions thereof, a plurality'of contact plates disposed within said insulated recesses, and independent conductors, connected to said plug contact plates, said plug contact plates being arranged on planes corresponding to the plates of the receptacle, so as to frictionally engage the same when the plug is turned, and longitudinal guide plates provided on the circular portions of said plug, provided with longitudinal flanges along the sides thereof, adapted to partlally close the said recessed portion, to prevent turning of the said plug within the receptacle during its insertion therein.

8. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle, a plurality of superposed blocks of insulation arranged transversely therein,

each block having an opening, transverse contact-plates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having a portion thereof following the contour of the opening in the blocks, and a portion projecting inwardly therefrom, the inwardly-projecting portions of the successive plates being arranged in line, independent conductors connected to said plates, and a plug of the same general cross-section as the opening in the plates, but of slightly smaller size, and comprising a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, a plurality of contact-plates between the successive blocks, and independent conductors connected to said plugplates, said plug-plates being spaced apart so as to frictionally engage the receptacleplates when the plug is turned.

9. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle having a removable cover, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation therein, each block having a central circular opening, transverse contact-plates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having an opening, a portion of said open ing following the contour of the adjacent block-opening, and opposed segments of said plates projecting inwardly therefrom, the segments of the successive plates being arranged in line, means clampin the blocks and plates to the cover at the lnside of the receptacle, said cover having an opening of the same shape as and in line with the openings in the contact-plates, independent conductors connected to each contact-plate, and a plug comprising a base-plate having an annular groove, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, and a plurality of transverse contact-plates between said blocks, and means clamping said blocks and plates to said base-plate, a handle at the opposite side of the base-plate, said plugblocks and plates and the-portion of said base-plate at the inner side of said annular groove being of the same general cross-section as the opening in said receptacle-cap, but of slightly smaller size, and independent conductors connected to said plug-plates, said plug-plates being spaced apart so as to frictionally engage the receptacle-plates when the plug is turned.

10. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle having a removable cover, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation therein, each block having a central circular opening, transverse contactas ers plates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having anopening, a portion of said opening following the contour of the adjacent block-opening, and opposed segments of said plates projecting inwardly therefrom, the segments of the successive plates being arranged in line, means clamping the blocks and plates to the cover at the inside of the receptacle, said cover having an opening of the same shape as and in line with the openings in the contact-plates, independent concluctors connected to each contact-plate, and a plug comprising a base plate having an annular groove, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, and a plurality of transverse contactplates between said blocks, and means clamping said blocks and plates to said base-plate, a handle at the opposite side of the baseplate, said plug-blocks and plates and the portion of said base-plate at the inner side of said annular groove being of the same general cross-section as the opening in said receptacle-cap, but of slightly smaller size, and independent conductors connected to said plug-plates, said plug-plates being spaced apart so as to frictionally engage the receptacle-plates when the plug is turned, and said inner portion of the base-plate having its leading edge angularly in advance of theplug contact-plates, so as to engage the cover-plate before said contact-plates engage the contact-plates of the receptacle.

11. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle having a removable cover, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation therein, each block having a central circular opening, transverse contact-plates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having an opening, a portion of said opening following the contour of the adjacent block-opening, and opposed segments of said plates projecting inwardly therefrom, the segments of the successive plates being arranged in line, means clamping the blocks and plates to the cover at the inside of thf receptacle, said cover having an opening of the same shape as and in line with the openings in the contact-plates, independent conductors connected to each contact-plate, and a plug comprising a base-plate having an annular groove, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, and a plurality of transverse contact-plates between said blocks, and means clamping said blocks and plates to said base-plate, a handle at the opposite side of the base-plate, said plug-blocks and plates and the portion of said base plates at the inner side of said annular' blocks, a second conducting-rodj similarly mounted and insulated and connected at its inner end with other contact-plates of the plug, said rods extending through said baseplate and having threaded outer ends, insulated sockets screwed on said-threaded ends of the rods, independent conduct JIS (pnnected to said sockets, said plug-plat es being spaced apart so as to fricti'onally engage the receptacle-plates when the plug is turned.

12. An electric switch, comprising a receptacle having a removable cover, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation therein, each block having a central circular opening, transverse contactplates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having an opening, a portion of said opening following the contour of the adjacent block-opening, and opposed segments of said plates projecting inwardly therefrom, the segments of the successive plates being arranged in line, means clamping the blocks and plates to the cover at the inside of the receptacle, said cover having an opening of the same shape as and in line with the openings in the contact-plates, independent conductors connected to each contact-plate, and a plug comprising a baseplate having an annular groove, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, and a plurality of transverse contactplates between said blocks, and means clamping said blocks and plates to said base-plate, a handle at the opposite side of the baseplate, said plug-blocks andplates and the portion of said base-plate at the inner side of said annular groove being of the same general cross-sectionas the opening in said receptacle-cap, but of slightly smaller size, a conducting-rod mounted on and insulated from said base-plate and connected at its inner end with the contact-plates between two of said blocks, a second conducting-rod similarly mounted and insulated and connected at its inner end with other contact-plates of the plug, said rods extending through said base-plate and having threaded outer ends, insulated sockets screwed on said threaded ends of the rods, independent conductors connected to said sockets, said plug-plates beingspaced apart so as to frictionally engage the receptacle-plates when the plug is turned, and a hollow handle fixed to the outer side of said plug base-plate, and inclosing said sockets, said handle having an opening, and said conductors being combined within the handle into a cable adapted to pass through said opening, and a block of insulation in said handle having a bore with a roughened wall, adapted to engage the cable for preventing the turning of the same in the handle.

13. An electric switch, comprising a. receptacle having a removable cover, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation therein, each block having a central circular opening, transverse contact-plates, one each between adjacent blocks, each plate having an opening, a portion ofsaid opening following the contour of the adjacent block-opening, and opposed segments of said plates projecting inwardly therefrom, the segments of the successive plates being arranged in line, means clamping the blocks and plates to the cover at the inside of the receptacle, said cover having an opening of the same shape as and in line with the openings in the contact-plates, terminals, one for each contact-plate, located in recesses of the blocks, between the same, each terminal comprising a body-portion having a tapering socket, and a binding-screw, and two laterally-extending wings adapted to frictionally engage between them the contact-plate to be connected, conductors, one for each plate, having at its end a threaded tapering connector adapted to enter the socket, said blocks having recesses in line with the terminal for giving access to said bindingscrew and socket, and a plug comprising a base-platehaving an annular groove, a plurality of transverse superposed blocks of insulation, and a plurality of transverse contact-plates between said blocks, and means clamping said blocks and plates to said baseplate, a handle at the opposite side of the base-plate, said plug-blocks and plates and the portion of said base-plate at the inner side of said annular groove being of the same general cross-section as the opening in said receptacle-cap, but of slightly smaller size, a conducting-rod mounted on and insulated from said base-plate and connected at its inner end with the contact-plates between two of said blocks, a second conducting-rod similarly mounted and insulated and connected at its inner end with other contactplates of the plug, said rods extending through said base-plate and having threaded outer ends, insulated sockets screwed on said threaded ends of the rods, and independent conductors connected to said sockets, said plug-plates being spaced apart so as to frictionally engage the receptacle-plates when the plug is turned.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO BAHLS. THEODORE SIEBERT, JR.

Witnesses F. Hose, J 05. BISBAND. 

